Summer backyard sights

 It was a good year for all of the Lily's.  I was worried they would peak when we were in CA but they graciously waited for us to return.  We also planted zinnea's from seed.  They are so pretty to look at and add to my view at the kitchen sink.  I have seen humming birds and many butterflies also enjoying the flowers. We do have a Mr and Mrs Cardnial that come around. We have a couple good insect indentification books, but I would like to get an Iowa bird book. 

We thought the coloring on this guy was super neat.  We looked it up and it is a leafhopper.

Noelle Sleeps

 always with her blanket

 with dirty feet

after reading

in Em's bed

in my bed with Dallas and Em

 with her brother on the other end of the bed

wtih books

Oshkosh Air Show 2015

Robert packed up the big kids and his dad for a little visit to Oshkosh, WI to see the air show.  Noelle didn't qualify as a big kid this year, but I think next year she will. 

She stayed home and got to have playdates, talk a whole lot, eat out and swim with me.

 

 Silly faces

 breakfast at the Cafe

one the second day we lunched at Noodles and Co so she could redeem her free meal coupon from the Library summer reading program.

 

 These kids had to share a bed at the hotel, don't they look sad about it

I really don't know what is going on in the rest of the pictures.

what we did the week after vacation

 naps, in baskets...

 My "low carb" tenderloin, who needs the bun, Iowa State Fair Good Guys food

 Annual ride at Good Guys

 Biked the High Trestle Bridge, we parked in Madrid and biked 5 miles round trip across the bridge and back to the truck, then had delicious ice cream at the Filling Station

 It rained a lot, green grass all summer long

 Noelle took to swim lessons quickly in her first year. The first morning she wouldn't put her head in the water, she spent the rest of the summer like this, face floating all over the place.

 Swim lessons = summer

 We discovered The Tonight Dough, it is the best

 The men mulched my flower beds

 Emily attended Thrive, a super cool 3rd-6th grade activity at our church and learned to make her own corsage

 It rained again

 Autocrossing the Chevelle at Good Guys 2015, Iowa State Fair grounds

Good Guys

 I got to ride with Robert on the autocross two times. It was awesome, and i cannot imagine doing it prior to having those race seats/belts in the car.

Disneyland Day 2

 Robert wanted to buy this Chip Foose drawing of Finn McMissle in front of Cadillac Range, and if you were wondering, yes the awesome animators at Disneyland did create a Cadillac Range in Radiator Springs.

 This was a giant cake commemorating the 60th "Diamond" Birthday of Disneyland.  Everything DL was bedazzeled in diamonds for this summer only to celebrate.

 We liked this wagon outside of one our favorite rides "soarin" in California Adventure. 

 Meeting Lighting McQueen

 The Cast Members would offer to take pictures using your iphone/camera as well as putting a picture on your photo pass card.  This particular time I handed my iphone to them and it was on "selfie' mode, ie the camera was turned around and they took a selfie.  Just an idea of how fun everything was.

 Day two at the parks we hit up Disneyland, this is the iconic enterance

 Driving Robert around

 Emily driving Noelle and I around, I was running the gas as she couldn't see over the wheel and press on the gas at the same time!

 In front of the Castle

 Disneyland has their own carousel, again, Noelle loved it and we rode it continuously whilel Robert was taking in a nearby rollercoaster.

 Noelle and I got completely soaked on a ride, the rest of the family did not.  See that spraying guyser behind us, we too the full brunt of the water.

 Meeting Red

 Closing down Radiator Springs

Meeting Anna and Elsa